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Least-Toxic Control of Deer Choose a different pests
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Identification
Pest type: Animals
In-depth information:
According to UC IPM:
Deer eat a variety of vegetation including woody plants, grasses, and forbs (small broadleaved flowering plants). They also consume fruit, nut, and ornamental trees, shrubs, vines, and garden vegetables. Deer trample plants and damage young trees and shrubs by rubbing their antlers on trunks and limbs. Because most deer feed in the late evening and very early morning, it is not always easy to observe them. A good way to determine their presence in the garden or orchard is to look for hoof prints. Deer hooves are split, pointed at the front and more rounded at the rear, and are about 2 to 3 inches long. Deer droppings are another good indicator of their presence.
Is it a problem?
Deer can easily destroy gardens, agricultural areas such as orchards, and landscaped areas such as foothill and coastal areas - the surrounding woodlands provide cover.
Pest prevention practices
In-depth information:
According to UC IPM:
Since deer can travel great distances to seek food and shelter, modifying their habitat to make it less desirable is usually impractical. Planting less-preferred plants in your garden or working with neighbors to plant them over large areas might be effective in reducing deer numbers in the area. Garden and landscape trees, shrubs, and vines often provide highly attractive browse, especially when new foliage is forming. Planting alternative attractive foods away from the garden will not prevent damage to more valued plants and might even make the whole area more attractive to deer.
Deer, like all animals, do have certain food aversions. You can often take advantage of this fact by using deer-resistant plants for ornamental plantings. Various factors can make a plant resistant to deer. For instance, many of the most resistant plants, such as oleander, are poisonous—some at all times and others only at certain stages of growth. In addition, plant preferences may vary depending on the time of year and where in the state your garden is located. This is why one gardener will find some ornamentals resistant to deer and other gardeners will find the same ornamental attractive to deer. Repellency to deer is also related to the availability of other food. If there is a surplus of attractive native forage, ornamental plantings may be largely untouched. If the naturally occurring food supply is low, there will be increased pressure to browse in domestic gardens. Under conditions of extreme food shortage, few plant species will be totally resistant to deer. A heavy deer population also increases competition for forage, with the result that plants normally unpalatable to deer may be eaten.
Deterrents such as fences, barriers, and various repellents are recommended and can all be used without a permit. Physical exclusion is by far the best and most reliable way to protect gardens, orchards, and ornamental plantings from deer.
Monitoring and record-keeping
According to UC IPM:
The first step in preventing damage from deer is to know if they are in or around your garden. Although deer are large and easily seen, their nocturnal habits may make it necessary to check the garden at night with a flashlight. Also look for physical signs of deer such as tracks, droppings, trails, and damage to foliage from deer browsing. Because a few deer can do a lot of damage to a garden or landscaped area, take action when signs of deer are first detected. If you know deer have caused problems nearby, consider using exclusion methods such as fences before damage occurs.
Non-chemical and mechanical controls
Create a barrier
Fencing
Mesh screens
In-depth information
According to UC IPM:
Fencing
Properly built and maintained fencing is the most effective method for preventing deer damage. Deer normally will not jump a 6-foot fence, but if chased or threatened, they can clear an 8-foot fence on level ground. Because of this ability, a 7- or 8-foot fence is recommended, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountain areas where larger deer are found. On sloping ground, you may need to build fences 10 or 11 feet high to guard against deer jumping down slope.
The kind of fence you build depends on the cost, terrain, and your needs. Both high-tensile wire and woven mesh, full-height fences are effective. Deer will crawl under or through a fence if they can, so make sure you secure the fence close to the ground and repair any breaks. An extra strand of wire stretched along the ground of a conventional fence will help prevent deer from crawling under the fence. Stake the wire or mesh firmly to the ground in any depressions between posts, or fill the depressions with materials that will not deteriorate or wash away. If you need to economize, you can stretch two or more strands of 9- or 10-gauge smooth wire spaced 4 to 6 inches apart above a 6-foot mesh fence to make it higher. There is no advantage to using barbed wire for these top strands. In order for the wire to remain tight, the vertical stays on mesh fences should be no more than 6 to 8 feet apart. High-tensile wire fences are less expensive and can be very effective, although their construction requires special techniques. For more information on these types of fences, contact an agricultural fencing contractor or supplier.
Remember, a good deer fence is built to work in both directions. If an animal gets in, it needs to be able to get out without difficulty. A removable section in an uphill corner on sloping ground or a corner farthest from human activity if on level ground can be very helpful in allowing deer to be driven out of the fenced area.
Gates
The height of any gates should be equal to that of the fence. Keep weight to a minimum; a wire mesh gate made with a light wooden frame is often satisfactory. If you use factory-made aluminum gates, you can bolt on metal extensions and stretch mesh wire over them to add height. It is advisable to sink a wooden base or concrete apron in the ground below the gate to make a uniform sill so that deer won’t work their way under the gate.
Converting an Existing Fence
To convert an existing fence, attach uprights vertically or at an angle sloping away from the area you want to protect. Fasten mesh wire or smooth wires above the fence with no more than 4 to 6 inches between them. Most fences can be made deer-proof with an upright extension of 3 or 4 feet, provided the lower portion is well constructed and fitted tightly to the ground. An often unrecognized fact is that deer are more likely to crawl under or through a fence than jump over it.
Maintaining Fences
Deer fences of any design must be checked regularly. Make necessary repairs to damaged wire, broken gates, soil washout beneath fences, or any weakness in construction that would permit deer access. The job becomes increasingly difficult as fences age and become vulnerable to breakage.
Individual Plant Protectors
In many places, protecting individual plants may be more practical and economical than fencing an entire area. For example, young fruit or nut trees in a home orchard can be individually fenced until primary branches grow above the deer’s reach, usually 5 to 7 feet above the ground. Poultry wire, heavier woven wire, or strong plastic netting can be attached to two stakes to form a circle around the tree. Plastic trunk protectors are especially useful for young vines and trees. Inspect individual protectors regularly because they can restrict plant growth. In addition, care must be taken to ensure the protector itself does not damage the vine or tree by causing an accumulation of excess heat or moisture.
Biological controls
Biological controls are not an effective means of controlling the deer population around your home.
Least-toxic chemical options as a last resort
According to UC IPM:
Various chemical repellents are sold for reducing or preventing deer damage to trees, vines, and ornamentals, although their effectiveness in most situations is not very good or long lasting. Deer repellents are designed to impart objectionable odors or tastes. Most are not allowed on food crops, so if that is its intended use, make sure the repellent is registered for that purpose. When deer are hungry and a garden area contains highly preferred foods, repellents are much less likely to be effective. It is important to remember that some repellents can be injurious to certain trees or shrubs, especially to the new growth. If in doubt, test the repellent on a single plant to make sure it is not phytotoxic (harmful to the plant). When you use deer repellents, follow product label directions carefully.
Most repellents should be applied before damage occurs and must be reapplied frequently, especially after a rain, heavy dew, or sprinkler irrigation. Likewise, to be effective, repellents must usually be applied to new foliage as it develops. Some repellents produce odors thought to frighten or repel deer from an area. One study has shown that products containing dried blood or putrescent eggs work best for repelling deer. Although these substances may repel deer for a little while, they have not proven to be satisfactory in protecting gardens from deer damage on a consistent basis.